Abuja: Court Nullifies INEC Pre-Election Guidelines

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

The Federal High Court, Abuja division has nullified guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by may 10 as a condition for participation in the 2027 general election.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar gave the order in a verdict on a suit instituted by the youth party challenging the legality of the electoral body’s directive. Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided under section 29 sub-section 1 of the electoral act, 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.

The court maintained that political parties are only required by law to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before the date of an election.

Arising from this, the court declared that inec as a defendant in the matter cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter time frame in its pre-election guidelines ahead 2027 election.

The court ruled that all registered political parties have until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers.

It ruled that INEC exceeded its statutory powers by imposing timelines that conflict with provisions of the electoral act, 2026.

INEC had earlier fixed January 16, 2027 for the conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections, while governorship and state houses of assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.